North Texas Skeptic - Vol 09 No 08 - 1995

Magazine Overview

This is the August 1995 issue of "The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics," titled "The Skeptic." It is Volume 9, Number 12, and the cover features the newsletter's logo.

Other Sources

This section, written by John Blanton, highlights various interesting items that the newsletter receives. It begins by discussing the "Skeptics UFO Newsletter" (SUN), a bi-monthly publication by Phillip J. Klass, praised for its "dry wit and hard-hitting style." A sample from SUN's March issue details how Canadian UFOlogists from the Canadian UFO Research Network (CUFORN) exposed a UFO landing case in Carp, Ontario, as a hoax. The case, which had been featured on NBC-TV's "Unsolved Mysteries" and Fox-TV's "Sightings," involved an anonymous cameraman called "Guardian." CUFORN's investigation revealed that the supposed UFO looked like a pickup truck, and the witness admitted knowing the cameraman. SUN questions whether NBC-TV and Fox-TV will report this exposé. SUN is described as an eight-page, bimonthly publication with a subscription rate of $15/year for the U.S./Canada and $20/year overseas.

CSICOP

This section presents a press release titled "'Psychic' Must Pay Skeptics Up to $120,000." It details the settlement of a four-year legal battle between self-proclaimed psychic Uri Geller and the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP). Geller had filed a $15 million suit against CSICOP and magician James "The Amazing" Randi, alleging defamation, invasion of privacy, and tortious interference. Randi had previously stated that Geller "tricked even reputable scientists." CSICOP, an Amherst, New York-based organization, maintained the suit was frivolous. The U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., ruled in favor of CSICOP, awarding them almost $150,000 in sanctions. Geller lost subsequent motions for reconsideration and appeals. The settlement requires Geller to pay CSICOP $70,000 over three years and the first $50,000 of any sums recovered in a new action against his former attorneys. He also must drop another suit filed in London. Previously, Geller was compelled to pay Prometheus Books an additional $20,000 in legal fees in a suit against Victor Stenger and Paul Kurtz. Barry Karr, CSICOP executive director, expressed pleasure with the victory, noting Geller's attempt to place assets in trust. Paul Kurtz, CSICOP chairman, stated CSICOP is prepared to defend its principles and characterized the suit as an attempt to silence debate.

Bad news from Science

This segment highlights an item from the April 7, 1995, issue of "Science," the journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), concerning "Creationism: Alabama Cracks Open the Door." Science educators are reportedly nervous about Alabama's adoption of new science teaching guidelines, fearing they may permit the teaching of creationism. The guidelines emphasize that evolution is only a "theory." Geologist Scott Brande of the University of Alabama at Birmingham notes that under current guidelines, evolution is not "qualified" and creationism is not mentioned, but the new guidelines may specify that "explanations of the origins of life and major groups of plants and animals, including humans, shall be treated as theory and not as fact." John Fransden, chair of the Alabama Academy of Sciences, suggests that "evolution foes" have succeeded in removing wording that could hinder state approval of creationist texts, such as the book "Of Pandas and People." The article also mentions that in Louisiana, school authorities instructed teachers to read a disclaimer before discussing evolution. The author notes that "creationists" often quote "Science" out of context. The subscription cost for "Science" is mentioned: $97/year for AAAS membership, with discounts for postdocs and students.

Good news from Scientific American

The July issue of "Scientific American" features a two-page profile of James Randi by Phillip Yam, detailing his early life and struggles as a skeptic. The article also touches on Randi's resignation from CSICOP following the lawsuit by Uri Geller, where Randi felt abandoned by CSICOP. A subsequent CSICOP news release aimed to defuse the issue. Randi is also set to become a regular columnist for "Scientific American."

Consumer Reports tells it like it is

An article in the July issue of "Consumer Reports" titled "A 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000-to-1 shot" discusses a homeopathic remedy. It notes that over-the-counter products like Vagisil Yeast Control, Yeast Gard, and Vaginex Yeast Care contain "pulsatilla" and homeopathic dilutions of "Candida albicans" and "Candida parapsilosis," with dilutions so extreme that likely not a single molecule of the ingredient is present. The article also covers homeopathic cold remedies, sleep aids, and arthritis products, reinforcing "Consumer Reports'" stance in favor of good science in consumer product reporting.

Creationist literature

This section mentions Don Patton's leaflet, "What is Creation Science?," which quotes real scientists out of context to argue against evolution. The author, Jeff Umbarger, and others have previously revealed the context of similar citations. The newsletter offers to provide copies of Patton's leaflet for dissection and expresses a desire for its wide public exposure to counter such tactics.

NTS Examines Penn & Teller

By Gregory Aicklen, this article reviews the performance of Penn & Teller in Fort Worth on July 15. The duo is known for debunking psychics and charlatans. The author, along with his wife Paula and two Asian friends (Mitch and Corinna), attended the show to assess its effects, though the friends were largely rendered ineffective by laughter. The show featured a "sleight of forklift" card trick and other routines where Penn & Teller demonstrated how tricks were performed, enhancing audience understanding and respect. The author notes the performers' "abuse" of audience members, including children, who were called on stage to throw darts at a target with Bible book names. Despite the perceived abuse, the audience found it funny. The author theorizes that Penn & Teller use "mob psychology" and "sheer force of personality" to manipulate the audience, fearing the genesis of a "Penn & Teller cult."

During intermission, the author introduced himself to the magicians, hoping to be chosen for a stage demonstration. He was eventually selected, along with a female partner, to verify that Penn & Teller had nothing hidden on them. This involved them stripping down to their boxers, and then, under a large plastic sheet, to complete nudity. The author asserts with certainty that nothing was hidden on either performer. After this, Penn & Teller donned plain tee shirts and proceeded to materialize items like hats and flowers, leading the author to conclude that such items must come from "thin air" as they could not be secreted on a naked body. The author concludes that "stark nekkid" has a new meaning for him and emphasizes the need for a good magician to spot trickery, commending Penn & Teller's show as "fantastic."

My pattern with Penn

This section, by Mike Sullivan, recounts his disappointment at missing Penn & Teller's performance but later having dinner with Penn Jillette. Pat Reeder, a "Skeptic" columnist, had interviewed Penn for a book project on novelty records. Penn invited Reeder, Virginia Vaughn, Danny Barnett, and others to dinner. Sullivan also missed this dinner. The author then describes attending the annual International Jugglers Association (IJA) convention in Las Vegas. There, he encountered Penn Jillette, who was participating in juggling activities. Jillette, dressed in black and wearing a "Team Satan 666" T-shirt, juggled clubs with other performers. Later, Sullivan and his juggling partner Bob Neuman saw Penn Jillette driving a pink Ford Bronco with "6SIX6" plates, labeled "Pink Death." Sullivan concludes that while he didn't have dinner with Penn, he did share juggling time with him.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes skepticism and critical thinking, evident in its examination of UFO claims, psychic phenomena, and pseudoscientific arguments. The publication actively debunks hoaxes and exposes misrepresentations, as seen in the coverage of the Canadian UFO case and Uri Geller's lawsuit. It also engages with broader societal issues related to science and education, such as the debate over creationism versus evolution. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific inquiry, evidence-based reasoning, and the rigorous examination of extraordinary claims. The publication also shows an interest in the work of prominent skeptics like James Randi and organizations like CSICOP.